The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-11-10
You know / am in love with Blanch

Il told you, Fred. that I didn't ex-
pect your sympathy"
"And yetyou have it" interrupted
again. with significant shrug.
I'm sure I'm an object Of sympa-
pathy." he said, dejectedly; engaged
to one woman and mxdly in love with
another one. Bessie Is the best, the
sweetest, the dearest girl on earth. but
oh! Fred, what shall do? I am
tempted, sometimes. to take . pistol
and make an end Of tho whole misera-
BILE affair. II man could marry both
OF thom-but that is impossible"
CLEARLY impossible; 50 you must
select some safer channel Tor the course
Of your true love than suicide or big
amy"
well. l came to ask your advice,
and whatever you advise-Fred, am
the most miserable man on earth and
see no possible way out Of my difficult
ties"
THE first thing to do" I said, lis to
ask Bessie to release you from your
present bondage; the second, to ask
Miss Bernard
Il cant bear to think Of asking Bes-
sie''-
''Sit right down here 1t once" l
said. authoritatively, placing . chair
1t my writing-desk, land write the
exact truth to Bessie. You will have
to break with her sooner or later, and
the sooner it is done the better for you
both"
"You are very anxious" he said,
pettishly. Il believe you've always
had liking for Bessie yourself"
''And 30 have" said. smiling at
this betrayal Of pique and jealousy.
"You have no right to be jealous, Is
you no longer care for her"
Il do care for her, am devoted to
her. but not in the way l care for
Blanch."
Exactly; just as I said. Now.
Clarence. no nonsense; If you are tired
| Of the old love, be off with her as soon
rs you please, but don't make love to
the old and the new at one and the
same time. don't understand how q
man who has been in love with a girl
like Bessie could descend to Blanch
Bernard. but every one to his taste.
10 be sure, have arrived at years Of
discretion. and can no longer be led
captive by pair Of brilliant eyes and
mass Of shining Fair. admit there
10 wide difference between twenty
five and thirty-five.
Clarence flushed holly.
major Reynolds" he exclaimed.
spiritedly, lis As mad about Blanch rs
am. He makes himself absurd when
ever he is in her presence. and am
sure you can't make his youth pre-
text for sneering at his taste and judg-
ment"
I can't account for his madness
except on the principle that one fool
makes many. or that extremes meet,
and an old fool and young fool meet
on tho same plane. replied, smiling
" and placidly.
Il am ready to admit that l am
fool-in your opinion-and the ques-
ton will require no arguing" he said
impatiently. lingering his moustache
nervously. but came to you for
advice, not criticism. Now tell me,
Fred. seriously. do you think l would
be justified, honorably justified, in
breaking with Bessie under the cir
cumstances?"
Seriously. Clarence, / think you
would be justified in doing nothing
else; you would certainly not be hon.
orably justified in marrying one
woman while in love with another
one. Do not allow yourself to be
deceived by any false and sentimental
notions Of honor. II you have ceased
to love Bessie, tell her SO at once.'
well, l WILL" he said, resolutely.
He seated himself at my desk and
| wrote letter which he entrusted to
me to deliver.
l decided in my own mind that
Clarence's infatuation for Miss Bernard
was but 4 f1eeting illusion, for / had
seen other men as ready to commit SUI
icide on her account as he, and yet
they still lived. Ono desperate lover
had known bought enough cold and
deadly poison to put out the lives of
dozen men. and another had CON-
plete armory Of death-dealing weap-
ons, and only hesitated because he
couldn't decide whether derringer, .
rifle or bowie knife would be the
pleasantest road to purgatory. The
last mentioned lover hesitated so long
that he forgot all about Miss Bernard's
charms before he made up his mind as
to the best manner Of shufliing of this
mortal il. and finally decided not to
force it of at all until he should be
forced to; and the first one, BY my
sage advice, concluded to sleep on his
suicidal thoughts. He did sleep on
them, and completely smothered not
only all thoughts of suicide, but his
flame for Miss Bernard as we'll
Knowing how harnllessly the fevered
madness had affected my other friends,
wisely determined to keep Clarence's
letter while, patiently awaiting fur
Their developments. The sequel proved
the advantage OF experiences; for. two
nights later he came into my room
with face whose palor and wretched-
ness had magically disappeared.
Fred" he asked, rather falteringly,
did you post my letter to Bessiep'
"You desired me to forward It as
soon as possible" ANSWERED. equivoc-
ally.
''pm the most miserable fool alive!'
he cried despairingly. Il wish some
body would knock my brains out
brains? l haven't any to knock out!
Oh. Fred, I'd give every dollar pos
sess not to have written that letter."
why? thought it was gem Of a
letter for man who desires to be of
with the old love before he is on with
the ncw.'